The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter THE Bahamas Petroleum Company would not respond to claims it has already started exploring for oil in Bahamian waters, and could not say when it would be. Calls were placed to the company's Nassau office yesterday after Democratic National Alliance (DNA) candidate Ben Albury repeated his allegation that the company is looking for oil despite the national moratorium on petroleum exploration. But an employee said no one was available for comment, and no one would be for the foreseeable future. At a press conference outside the Ministry of the Environment, Mr Albury claimed that according to his sources, BPC is using a Chinese submarine to explore the Bahamian seabed, and may be partnering with 12 Chinese companies in its bid to drill for oil in the Bahamas. He said: "Our number one industry is tourism, our number three industry is fishing, so we have to very cautious how we proceed with this." Mr Albury has continued to insist for weeks that BPC has been operating in violation of the moratorium and has hit out at Environment Minister Earl Deveaux, who he said failed to adequately answer his questions. Mr Deveaux has repeatedly said the moratorium remains in place. When a local BPC employee was asked if anyone was available to comment on Mr Albury's press conference yesterday, she said no one was available. When asked when someone would be available, she said "Not this week". When asked if next week would be better, she said "No". Asked if the following week would be better, she said "No". Asked if a representative of the company would ever be available for comment, she said: "I don't know." Yesterday, Mr Albury also placed blame on the PLP, which originally issued the licences to BPC to explore for oil. Those licenses expire next month, and Mr Albury the DNA is trying to gain public support to block their renewal. The party has already launched a petition and has around 150 signatures. He said: "What we don't understand is why the PLP has been so silent on this issue as Bahamians everywhere are calling for answers. Why have they not stepped forward to defend their decision to grant the original permits for oil exploration?" "Why have they not stepped forward to defend Bahamas Petroleum Company who is represented by the firm of Deputy Leader of the PLP, (Philip) 'Brave' Davis? Does their silence reflect something that do not want to be made public?" BPC's website lists Mr Davis' law firm, Davis & Co, among its solicitors.